Miniwanca and Merrowvista campers of the 1920s and 1930s would find some camp elements unrecognizable: cabins with screened windows, elaborate high ropes courses, a wild cardboard box race inspired by...

The American Youth Foundation invites you to join us once again for a virtual experience that will bring intention to your new year, called the YearCompass. Originating over a decade...

We are blown away by the overwhelming response to our Giving Tuesday challenge! Thanks to 229 generous donors, we soared past our previous Giving Tuesday records, raising $57,452 for AYF...

When we count down to the new year on Dec. 31, we aren’t just ringing in 2025. We are also kicking off a year of celebration as we welcome the...

Merrowvista Community and School Programs provide growth opportunities to thousands of kids and teens, but there’s another key group that benefits, too. The dedicated internship cohorts who develop and run...

About 40 students recently gathered for the Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative, a youth empowerment program at Miniwanca. In four days, they built a community and discussed how to create...

More than 60 people descended on Miniwanca for four days in September to pursue their personal bests during Spark, the American Youth Foundation’s retreat for adults. This is the third...

Sydney Freeman is often the first person people meet when they arrive at Miniwanca and the first voice they hear on the phone. As Office Manager, Freeman knows her role...

Around 2,000 kids and teens will experience the power of American Youth Foundation programs this fall through the organization’s Community and School Programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista. CSP welcome participants...

Chicago-area youth got a chance to experience summer camp for the first time this month at Dare to Adventure, a four-day outdoor educational experience at Miniwanca. This is the second...

After several years working at other nonprofits, Nick Tamboli wanted a job that combined his love of the outdoors with his passion for helping youth discover their best. He joined...

Merrowvista welcomed 20 eager participants to its first Spark, a three-day retreat for adults, Aug. 23 to 25. AYF Director of Adult Programs Holley Young said it was a joy...

Girls Camp Director Bethany Wise is back with another dispatch from Miniwanca! If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone refer to “the real world” at camp,...

As we wrapped up Session A last week, we reflected on all our Trailblazers and Pioneers have accomplished. I loved seeing all these wild and fun campers have achieved. They...

Assistant Camp Director Brianna Moynihan recaps the last week of interest groups during Session A. I cannot believe it’s last week of Session A for Camp Miniwanca Summer 2024! We...

As we approach the end of session A, every cabin group (called Villages at camp) has taken some sort of outdoor adventure trip. Whether it was an overnight at the...

Camp Director Katsu Okuma is back with another dispatch from Merrowvista as camp prepares to say goodbye to Session A and welcome Session B campers....

Hello everyone! My name is Audrey, and I am the waterfront coordinator this summer at Merrowvista. This past week, the waterfront has become a focal point of camp activities, and...